By Pagans, For Pagans: A Guide to Pagan Camping

I just finished reading the new book by Lori Dake, A Guide to Pagan Camping. Overall, I was impressed. As an avid eBook fan, I was grateful that the first available format was digital. I downloaded it to my iPod’s Kindle Reader and began to devour the book. One thing to keep in mind is that the book is really a collection of blog posts that Dake has been keeping for years in regards to Pagan camping and festivals. Truthfully, it reads that way as well. I wouldn’t say this is a completely polished book but I am not certain that Dake was going for that. She chose to self-publish simply to get her message out to the community. Many of the sections are very casual using slang or phrases that you might not expect in a published book format but would be common place in a personal blog. It wasn’t like reading a book at all, but like chatting with a friend about their experiences. As much I would encourage anyone to purchase this book to support the Author and the community as a whole, Dake makes no secret that this information is available on-line for free. It is my understanding that she simply wants to make all of the concepts and ideas she has as accessible as possible. If you would prefer to leave the blog style writing to a blog and not purchase the book it is entirely your choice.

Dake’s ideas are thoughtful and well explored. She shares a lot of personal stories about camping throughout her  life to illustrate how easy camping can be. And it doesn’t appear that Dake roughs it to any degree. I camp a lot and I found some new and interesting ideas presented in A Guide to Pagan Camping that I intend to use whether at a festival or while finishing my tiny house. In fact, Dake even writes briefly about the tiny house movement so I was very excited to see a mission I am very passionate about be presented to a potentially new audience.

The final section of the book is recipes, a couple of which I highlighted to be able to refer back to the next time I’m camping.

Interestingly enough, this book made me want more books about Pagan camping. Specifically when I finished it I said to my partner that I would love to see a book about organizing and hosting a Pagan festival. What goes into the process: the land, the vendors, possible food, port-a-potties, and all the other trappings we expect?  Helpfully he said, “Why don’t you write it then?” and I replied that I’ve never put on a Pagan festival to which is response was to do that first then write about it. Maybe one day.

In the meantime, I will simply use Lori Dake’s book as a guide for my next camping excursion and enjoy every second of my time sleeping under the stars.